nd she ran down the stairs and opened the door
herself.

"I have two visitors upstairs," she said, as the angry monarch stepped
inside.

"What!" he shouted hoarsely, "bring them to me. How do I know but that
they are enemies?"

"Indeed they are not," she replied, "as you will see in 500 short
seconds."

"Ned, come down!" she called, "bring your friend with you, for I would
have you meet the King!"

Ned turned to the giant, whose big face was twitching with terror.
"He'll recognize me as sure as eggs is eggs!" he groaned.

"What! is that thunder?" exclaimed the King below, mistaking the giant's
moan for a thunderclap, but before his question was answered Ned and his
friend appeared at the head of the stairway.

After shaking hands with Ned in quite a friendly way the wicked King
turned to the giant. "Ha, ha!" he cried, "have I not had the pleasure of
meeting you before, my fine friend?"

The giant said nothing, for what could he say?

"Have I not met you before?" repeated the King, with a fierce gesture.
"Methinks you would look better as a pine tree than a hulking giant,"
and before the words were fairly out of the King's mouth a stately pine
tree was standing in the courtyard, through which the wind of the early
morning made a moaning noise much like the pitiful groan of the poor,
late giant.

"And you, my little cockatoo," continued the wicked King, turning
quickly to Ned, "would look better in a cage!"

And in another minute Ned found himself in a wicker cage, suspended from
the lowest limb of the pine tree.

"And now," cried the wicked King, "where is your third guest?" The
princess paused a moment. "Oh, the little bluebird!" she exclaimed,
"where has it gone?"

"No, not the little bluebird, but he that was the bluebird."

At this the poor princess became very pale. She had hidden her brother
the evening before when they had gone to bed in a closet in her room,
hoping to have the opportunity of disguising him and sending him away
with Ned and the giant the first thing in the morning. But, now, alas,
her wicked stepfather undoubtedly suspected something. For else why
should he ask for him?

She was in despair, for she knew not what to say. And where was Ned's
little friend, the bluebird herself, all this time? Had she deserted her
friends, the little princess asked herself?

"Answer my question!" cried the King, grasping hold of her wrist.

The princess screamed with terror and her brother, hea